Thursday, May 24, 2012

Move over, Spot

I want one!
Some say dogs are man's best friend. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that a new favorite pet is showing up in cities across the country. It's not a cat. It's not a parrot, either. It's a chicken.

More and more urban and suburban homeowners are finding benefits in raising chickens instead of other pets. They're soft, they're friendly, and they give you fresh and delicious eggs that liberates you - at least in some small way - from industrialized food production.

Do you want a new feathery friend in your back yard? Before you commit, make sure you:

Some chicken-friendly cities.
  • Make sure your city allows chickens.
    •  This website gives information on chicken policy in urban areas across the country. If your city or town isn't there, then still check in with your city to make sure that you're good to go.
  • Avoid roosters. Most cities don't allow them, anyway, and you want to make sure that you don't accidentally end up with more chickens than you can take care of.
  • Make sure you have the means and time to care for a chicken. If you're looking for a low-maintenance pet, you might go for an outdoor cat; chickens require lots of time, energy, and upkeep.
  • Read up on chicken care. There are a plethora of online resources at your disposal, and it never hurts to talk to someone who takes care of chickens in his or her back yard.
For me, the #1 bummer about living in an apartment is a lack of chickens. My dream home involves a red door, a picket fence and a chicken coop out back!

Do you have any experiences or stories with backyard/urban chickens? Share in the comments!

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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 24, 2012 at 4:39 PM

    I've always been interested in getting chickens. In my hometown, Portland, OR, it's not uncommon to see chickens in back yards, especially in the 'burbs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 24, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    Hi there!
    Ok, this is actually making me want a chicken... And I don't like anything other than dogs...
    I love the last sentence about the red door, picket fence, and a bunch of chickens!
    10!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mackie SwanMay 24, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    I love your topic! Great info for people like to buy local. Your post was informative and I like your pictures too. Good job! Score: 9.5

    ReplyDelete
  4. Peter OgleMay 28, 2012 at 3:29 PM

    Nice. Even though Corvallis may be only your adopted home, it would help to see some specifics on what our fair city has to say about backyard chickens. What you want to do with your blog is fix yourself in a locale, and use that to your advantage. You've done this in general terms within the Northwest, but you know something about Corvallis and the Idaho panhandle, so use that knowledge. This post is fun, informative and engaging. Score = 9.5

    ReplyDelete

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